Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Melatonin and 5-Methoxytryptophol on Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Pulpitis in Rats.

Fatma Kermeoğlu,Ahmet Özer Şehirli,Hanife Özkayalar,Umut Aksoy,Serkan Sayıner,Abdullah Sebai,Gökçe Savtekin,Shuai Chen

doi:10.1155/2021/8884041

Abstract

Aim The aim of this study was to investigate the possible therapeutic impacts of two pineal hormones, melatonin and 5-methoxytryptophol (5-MTX), in a rat model of acute pulpitis by analyzing biochemical and histopathological parameters. Methods This research was done using 32 male and female Wistar albino rats with weight between 200 and 250 g. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: a control group (rats without any treatment), acute pulpitis (AP) group, AP+melatonin group, and AP+5-MTX group. In the AP-induced groups, the crowns of the upper left incisors were removed horizontally. Lipopolysaccharide solution was applied to the exposed pulp tissue before the canal orifices were sealed with a temporary filling material. Melatonin (10 mg/kg) and 5-MTX (5 mg/kg) were administered intraperitoneally. The rats were sacrificed 24 hours after pulp injury, and trunk blood and pulp samples were collected. The concentrations of TNF-α, IL-1β, MMP-1, and MMP-2 in sera and pulp samples were determined using ELISA assay kits. Results TNF-α, IL-1β, MMP-1, and MMP-2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues were considerably higher in the AP group than the control group (p < 0.01‐0.001). In the AP+melatonin and AP+5-MTX groups, TNF-α, IL-1β, MMP-1, and MMP-2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues were significantly lower than in the AP group (p < 0.05‐0.001). Conclusions Both melatonin and 5-MTX provided protective effects on acute pulpitis, which indicates they may be promising as a therapeutic strategy for oral disease.

Highlights

Pulpitis is generally associated with dental caries that lead to bacterial invasion of the dentinal tubules
Recent studies have shown that matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) take part in pulpitis, and the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 are considerably higher in pathological pulp tissue than in healthy pulp tissue [6,7,8]
In accordance with previous data, our findings revealed that tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), IL-1β, MMP-1, and MMP-2 levels in the serum and pulp tissues were significantly higher in the acute pulpitis (AP) group than the control group

Summary

Introduction

Pulpitis is generally associated with dental caries that lead to bacterial invasion of the dentinal tubules. Bacterial invasion induces host defense reactions in the dental pulp, including inflammatory and immune events. The goal of this reaction is to limit or prevent the progression of injury or damage of the pulp tissue [1]. One of the important inflammatory cytokines is tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), which manages the coordination of the early host response to injury. It plays a central role between the initial stage and later inflammatory phases. Recent studies have shown that MMPs take part in pulpitis, and the levels of MMP-1 and MMP-2 are considerably higher in pathological pulp tissue than in healthy pulp tissue [6,7,8]

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Conclusion